Filmmaker Sean Penn is set to direct a film about the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, with Bradley Cooper in talks to star as a police officer involved in the events. The project is currently untitled and is expected to begin production in mid-2027. Warner Bros. has agreed to purchase the film, but its future is uncertain due to an impending merger with Paramount Skydance. Paramount CEO David Ellison has previously shown support for former President Donald Trump, which may impact the film's development.
Penn has expressed interest in the January 6 events, having attended a 2022 hearing of the House select committee investigating the incident. He stated he was there as an observer and attended as a guest of former D.C. police officer Michael Fanone, who was injured during the riot. While Penn has been vocal about his views on Trump, Cooper has maintained a more neutral public stance, although he attended the 2016 Democratic National Convention.
The Department of Justice recently announced it would not challenge the merger between Warner Bros. and Paramount Skydance, a deal valued at $111 billion that would place control of the studio under Ellison. The film's production timeline coincides with ongoing discussions about legal protections for individuals involved in the January 6 events.